Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stars as Thunder clinch NBA crown

The Oklahoma City Thunder have made history, clinching their first NBA championship since relocating from Seattle in 2008 with a hard-fought 103-91 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Monday night.

A roaring Paycom Centre crowd witnessed the Thunder cap off a record-breaking season (68-14) with a dominant second-half performance, silencing the underdog Pacers and cementing their place among the league’s elite.

From underdogs to champions

This wasn’t just any title win—it was the culmination of years of rebuilding, resilience, and the rise of a new NBA superstar.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the newly crowned regular-season MVP, delivered a masterclass when it mattered most, dropping 29 points and 12 assists to secure Finals MVP honours.

“It doesn’t feel real,” an emotional Gilgeous-Alexander said post-game. “So many hours, so many moments, so many emotions, so many nights of disbelief. This group works hard. This group put in the hours, and we deserve this.”

He becomes the first player since Shaquille O’Neal in 2002 to win the scoring title, regular-season MVP, and Finals MVP in the same season—a testament to his meteoric rise.

Pacers’ heartbreak as Haliburton injury shifts momentum

The Pacers, this postseason’s Cinderella story, started strong with Tyrese Haliburton draining early threes.

But disaster struck in the first quarter when the two-time All-Star slipped, tearing his Achilles—leaving the court in tears as stunned silence swept the arena.

Indiana fought valiantly without their leader, even taking a halftime lead through gritty defence.

But the Thunder, led by Gilgeous-Alexander’s third-quarter explosion, seized control with a 9-0 run to open the fourth—sealing their place in the record books.

A final for the history books

This victory marks the Thunder’s first NBA title since the franchise moved from Seattle in 2008.

Their 68-14 regular-season record stands as the fifth-best in NBA history. Oklahoma City also became the first team since the 1988 Los Angeles Lakers to score 100 or more points in a Game 7 of the Finals.

While small-market teams often fly under the radar, this series proved heart, hustle, and teamwork can triumph. For Oklahoma City, the wait is over—the Larry O’Brien Trophy is finally theirs.

What’s next for the Thunder? With a young core and a superstar in his prime, this might just be the beginning of a new dynasty.